The library consultant commented on the Derby Telegraph Facebook page, praising the department for its work.

She told us: “I used to live in Leicester and I can say hands down that Derby’s A&E and whole hospital is an amazing resource. It should be a model for other NHS facilities around the country, especially compared to Leicester.

“I was admitted this May to Royal Derby for a suspected kidney infection. I do have an immune system issue and the blood tests didn’t show anything amiss but the A&E team knew I was in serious pain, trusted I knew my own body and that something was wrong and admitted me within hours.

“It turns out I was in the early stages of pyelonephritis. Dr James Wolfe attended me in A&E and he talked me through everything he was going to do. The nurses were all kind and attentive.

Royal Derby Hospital's A&E department has recently been voted the best in the country by an independent watchdog(Image: Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)

“There was also a lady who went around spending time with any patients on their own. That was a real comfort whilst I waited for my family to arrive. Even the porters taking me to and from scans were supportive without being obtrusive.

“Basically, here I’ve always felt safe and well looked after and, crucially, listened to, so I am not surprised they have been voted the best.”

The recent award was given to Royal Derby Hospital by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine watchdog. It praised over 100 Derby-based staff in what is their first ever UK award for the best A&E department in the country.

“It is a measurement of how we respond to requirements that patients have in an emergency event. It shows that we give a good level of care, quick response time and patient satisfaction.

“This is the first time that the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has given out this award. While I don’t know exactly how many entered, I presume that most A&E’s in the country will have been given the opportunity to enter.

“It’s fair to say that the college and others recognise the importance of a good quality service and employing the best level of expertise that we can.

“We have high volumes of patients here so it is a good resource to show that we still have that high level of quality that we want to present.”

She also wanted to remind the people of Derby that the A&E needs the help of the people of Derby to make sure that the team’s life-saving skills are available for those most in need.